How to Say ‘Okay?’ in Simplified Chinese
好吗？
hǎo ma
[haow ma]
💬 Usage Tip: [好吗？] is literally "okay?" and is often used to check agreement gently. You can use the same pattern with many words: [可以吗？] or [这样好吗？].
🇨🇳 In China: In care talk, [好吗？] often softens instructions and invites cooperation rather than sounding like a hard command. It is common when checking comfort or consent in a simple way.
Phrase Breakdown
好
hǎo
[haow]
good; well; okay
Used to describe something as good or okay. In the phrase 好吗, it helps form a soft suggestion or confirmation question.
我们先按时吃药，好吗？
Let's first take the medicine on time, okay?
吗？
ma
question particle
Placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question.
你好吗？
How are you?
Words in this phrase
吗
ma
[ma]
question particle
Placed at the end of a sentence to ask a yes-no question. In 好吗, it makes the tone gentle and polite.
我们先按时吃药，好吗？
Let's first take the medicine on time, okay?
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